Does your dog eat anything he finds on the street? Here's how to make it stop

If your four-legged friend eats food scraps during walks or throws himself at inedible objects he finds on the way, then it is important to stop. There are in fact some simple tricks to teach him to prevent your dog from eating on the street

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

Walks with your dog are generally a moment of relaxation and socialization, but they can almost turn into a nightmare if the animal is used to brushing everything it finds along the way, having no intention of leaving it there.

This behavior occurs in both puppies and adults and when it comes to non-nutrients it is called pica, term which indicates the anomalous tendency of the animal to ingest inedible things that are paper, sand, pebbles and even excrement.

Given that you should always pay attention to what dogs ingest, even if the animal often has the habit of eating blades of grass, many of the objects that are thrown or abandoned on the street are dangerous for dogs because they are small or sharp for example. .

Therefore, teaching your dog not to jump on food and more can not only prevent our friend from running into danger, but also make the walk more peaceful for both the dog and the owner. Rather than forcefully opening our dog's muzzle, there are some tricks and commands that can be very useful:

Index

Teach your dog the command "let go"

Leaves! Spring! Spit! There are many possibilities that the command offers, but that must be very clear for the dog to be able to function on the street. To ensure that the animal receives it in time, train at home with a puppet and treats:

grab his favorite game and some snacks;
invites the dog to grab the toy, but do not let go when he catches it;
immediately bring a treat to his nose to attract his attention;
when your dog is about to let go, firmly repeat "let go" or the expression you want him to learn and give him the treat;
repeat the exercise several times and in different points of the house before trying the street where the distractions will be greater.

It strengthens his impulse control

The temptation to grab some rest of food or a toy is a very strong urge in dogs but it can be controlled with the right exercise. Teaching your dog to regulate his behavior will prove to be very helpful in other situations as well:

pick up a snack your dog loves or a delicacy and clench my fist;
bring him close to your dog and let him smell and lick your hand;
wait for him to calm down and as soon as he sits down open your fist and show him what's inside;
close your hand again when the dog lunges for the prize;
when it is quiet, wait a little and put the treat on the ground if the animal is waiting;
say "go" and reward your dog.

This exercise should be repeated frequently, lengthening its duration and gradually increasing the difficulty.

Muzzle yes or no?

The muzzle is a controversial tool for educators, some suggest it, others instead would like to abolish it. If the dog has health problems and you want to make sure nothing can get into his jaws then a muzzle may be indicated. There are many types on the market for the specific needs of the dog.

The muzzle alone does not teach the dog any behavior and it is not the solution to the problem, on the contrary, if not introduced correctly it can cause stress and fears in the animal that at the sight of the object will tend to escape.

Other useful tips

To keep your dog from being tempted to grab objects and food on the street, also make sure you:

having fed the animal at least an hour before going down for a walk;
always carry biscuits with you to work on the "leave" command and the like;
walking in places with not too many temptations at the beginning;
walking the dog by your side to follow his movements;

Also remember that if you have adopted an abandoned dog that has spent part of its life on the street then it will very often tend to throw itself on food, having been driven by the instinct to survive and having probably suffered from hunger in its previous life. Always keep this in mind. It is not that he does not want to listen to you, it is simply a survival instinct for those who have suffered (hunger, and more).

This attitude can be difficult to blunt, but never say never. If despite these exercises, there should be no improvements, then you can think of turning to a specialized educator who preferably follows a zooanthropological approach.

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